Compound for exterminating burrowing animals.



No. 642,79I. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

.1. T. GRAY.

COMPOUND FOB EXTERMINATING BURROWING ANIMALS.

(Application filed May 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

wi hmwoeq zfgz 'NTTED STATES PATENT :FFICE.

J-AMES T. GRAY, OF HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA.

COMPOUND FOR EXTERMINATING BURROWING ANIMALS.

SPECIFIdAT-ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,791, datedFebruary 6, 1900. Application filed May 11, 1899 Serial No. 716,340. (Nospecimens.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES '1. GRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hollister, county of San Benito,.State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in Exterminators for Burrowing Animals; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same.

My invention relates to a compound and means for applying it, wherebyburrowing animals like squirrels, gophers, rabbits, 850., may bedestroyed in their burrows.

It consists of a compound formed of ingredients, hereinafter describedand claimed, which will produce a suffocating vapor or fumes which whendisseminated throughout the galleries and passages of burrowing animalswill exterminate said animals.

In the preparation of my compound I employ coal-tar, sulphur, andcoal-oil or petroleum, either crude or refined, and with these may becombined certain other substances which assist in rendering them moreeffective. Various proportions of these substances may be employedwithout materially altering the character or effect; but I have foundthat the following proportions are very effective in practice: coal tar,forty pounds; sulphur, twenty pounds, and crude or refined petroleum orcoal-oil, three gallons. Although this compound is effective for thepurpose, I have found that the addition of certain other ingredientssuchas rosin, either powdered or in the form of the oil of rosin, and groundcharcoalare especially effective, the former serving to stiffen up andretain in shape the tubular fibrous substance through which the compoundis best applied.

The ingredients of the compound are mixed as follows: First, takecoal-tar and mix in the sulphur in a vessel which is afterward closed,and the compound is heated either by a fire, steam heat, if available,or any other desired means, it being preferable to have the fire coveredand inclosed, as in a stove, so that there will be no danger of ignitingthe contents of a vessel. If the rosin or charcoal is It is then removedfrom the fire and the petroleum or coal-oil is stirred in, and thecompound is again reheated to the boiling-point. This insures a thoroughmixture and permanent union of the ingredients and prevents theseparation of the lighter oil from the rest of the mass, which is liableto occur when it is at tempted to mix the compound in a cold state andunder different conditions.

In order to properly apply this compound, I take burlap or any flexiblefibrous material and saturate it in the heated mass, pressing out anysurplus that may remain after the dipping. I have found that a very goodway to prepare the material is to cut it into small squares of four orfive inches dimensions in each direction, then dip these squares intothe heated mass, either partially or wholly, or the compound may bebrushed upon the material, if preferred. 1f wholly dipped or saturated,the surplus may be squeezed out by passing the strips between rolls, orif partially dipped the strips may be piled up one on top of the other,and capillary attraction will serve to saturate the remaining undippedportions, so that the strips will all be sufficiently saturated and thesurplus material will thus be disposed of. To use this material, thesestrips are rolled up into small coils.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which the figure shows themode of applying the exterminator, A represents one of said coils of thematerial, and at the point where it overlaps it may be seized by a longtongs or other suitable implement. The hollow roll A thus formed is thenignited and after the flame is sufficiently started the roll is thrustinto the burrow by the aid of the tongs or holder to a considerabledistance from the mouth of the burrow. By thus rolling up the saturatedmaterial and forming it into a tube an airspace is provided forcirculationof air through it and the mass will, after being ignited,burn without being easily put out, which is an advantage over any wad ofmaterial through which it might be attempted to apply the compound. Theaddition of the rosin also stitfens up the fiber of the cloth, burlap,or other material and assists in retaining it in its cylindrical ortubular form and assists in preventing its collapsing within the burrow.

After the tube A has been ignited and inserted the mouth of the burrowis closed by grass, weeds, or other available substance laid lightlyover the mouth and a little earth placed lightly upon it without toomuch force, which would tend to extinguish the flame. After the hole hasbeen thus lightly covered it may be fully and entirely covered withearth without any further danger, and the burning of the roll willcreate fumes which, being unable to escape through the mouth of thehole, will be forced through the various passages and galleries of theburrow and will drive out or destroy the animals located therein.

The rolls are preferably ignited from the inside, and will thus be lessliable to be extinguished in the wind. If for any reason there should besome difficulty in igniting the rolls,

they may be freshly wetted with coal-oil or other inflammable substance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Acompound formed of coal-tar, sulphur, and petroleum product mixedsubstantially as herein described.

2. A compound of sulphur, tar and petroleum product mixed and applied tofibrous inflammable material which is afterward formed into tubularrolls, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES 'l. GRAY. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, JESSIE O. Enema.

